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Travonte Valentine | Defensive Tackle

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LSU redshirt sophomore DT Travonte Valentine will be eligible to play in 2016.

At long last. Valentine has passed the necessary intersession course to receive academic eligibility from the university. The 6-foot-3, 345-pounder has been practicing with the Tigers for a week-plus as he waited on his course results, so he should be able to hit the ground running come the start of the season. Coming out of high school, he ranked as the No. 3 defensive tackle recruit in the country. Aug 22 - 1:53 PM

Though LSU redshirt sophomore DT Travonte Valentine has rejoined the Tigers, the Baton Rouge Advocate is reporting that he is not yet eligible to play.

According to The Advocate, Valentine needs to complete one more class this month to become eligible for the season. Somebody help tutor the big fella, because the Tigers could sure use him following Christian LaCouture's season-ending injury. The 6-foot-3, 345-pound Valentine was the third-ranked defensive tackle prospect in the nation when he came out of high school. He'll be used as a rotational space gobbling monster in Dave Aranda’s vaunted 3-4 defense if his teacher gives the thumbs up. Aug 9 - 6:55 PM

LSU redshirt sophomore DT Travonte Valentine has been ruled academically eligible and has rejoined the Tigers.

The 6-foot-3, 345-pounder played at Arizona Western Junior College last year after being ruled academically ineligible. Now cleared, he's a monster addition to the middle of Dave Aranda’s vicious 3-4 defense. "I want to focus on my three years at LSU to graduate and hopefully win a few National Championships," Valentine said. "I’ve matured as a man since I left and want to prove myself to the wonderful fans at LSU." Valentine has three years of eligibility remaining. "Coach O [former position coach Ed Orgeron] said I can be one of the best defense tackles in the country if stay focused," Valentine said. "If I stay away from the bad crowds and cling to my teammates." Aug 8 - 6:27 PM

Valentine is not yet eligible academically, but he is close. Right now, the 6-foot-3, 345-pounder is wrapping up his coursework at Mississippi Coast Community College. He needs to pass two more classes before he could potentially join the Tigers. The former four-star recruit initially hooked up with LSU during the 2014 cycle, but academics plagued him -- he did not play that season because he failed to gain eligibility from the SEC -- and an unrelated violation of team rules led to his dismissal from the program last April. A credit to both HC Les Miles and Valentine himself for bridging that gap from dismissal to (potential) enrollment. There isn't always a need to burn bridges to the ground. Valentine will need to keep his head on straight once he rejoins Miles' crew, but if he can do that, he has the talent to make an impact on the field this season. Jul 17 - 1:10 PM